Buckle fastener



sept. 17, 1940. F, M, RON@ 2,215,195

BUCKLE FASTENER Filed April 3, 1939 Patented Sept. 17, 1940 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE BUCKLEv FASTENER Fernando M. Rumi, Providence, R. I.

Application April 3, 1,939, Serial No. 265,711

15 Claims.

may be pivoted upwards for insertionof an opposite strap end therethrough.

My invention in certain respects is an improvement on the invention shown and described in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 203,051, filed April 20, 1938 for Buckle fastener and in general its objects are to carry for-k ward in a more specific form the specific objects of said invention.

One object of my invention therefore is to provide a buckle in which the pivot bar is so constructed as to provide a stationary surface for the rigid-attachment of said pivot 'bar to the strap end of an article to which the buckle is attached, thereby permitting the stitching or other means employed to attach said pivot bar to said article, to overlie said pivot bar without relative movement in use, thereby causing no friction or wear against the surface of the article to which the pivot bar is attached. l

In accordance with the principles of said invention, a further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle fastener of this type in which all parts of the buckle, which normally contact the object or strap,end to which it is attached will remain stationary Without tilting on said article during use and for this purpose I provide av broader type of means than shown in thereof adapted to abut the surface of the article for this purpose and specifically including the anchor frame characteristic of said invention as well as means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to maintain said pivot bar in a stationary position von the strap end which means may comprise a keeper frame for a strap end desired to be inserted through the buckle. Thus my invention comprises improvements in means to positively prevent the buckle from ltilting on said article in use.

A further object of my invention relates to improvements in the stop means I preferably ernploy lto insure that the frame will stop in a substantially vertical position for insertion of a strap end therethrough'when it is pvoted rearwardly and will rest in a substantially horizontal position in use abutting said anchor frame or stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar spaced from the surface of said article without resting on the surface of the article.

A further object of my invention relates to the specific means I preferably employ including a modified construction of the pivot bar, keeper frame and buckle frame to pivotally mount the arms of the buckle frame adjacent the ends of the pivot bar.

Furtherfeatures of my invention relate to the specific construction of the parts of the embodiments of my invention shown, which may be readily stamped or otherwise fabricated from sheet material and readily assembled.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the'accompanying drawing, which illustrates embodiments thereof attached to a shoe to function as ashoe buckle.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of my improved buckle and adjacent parts of the shoe attached to a side Wall of a shoe upper with the shoe strap attached to the other side Wall of the shoe upper about to be inserted through my improved buckle.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, but with the strap end inserted through the buckle in closed interengaging position with the buckle frame pivoting upwards over the anchor frame, or other stop means employed in use, without touching the shoe as the wearer walks.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle per se in detached position with the buckle fra-me raised to a substantially vertical position for insertion of the strap end therethrough.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective View of the component parts of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1-3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative form of composite pivot bar and keeper frame I may alternatively employ, employing stop lugs projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacentthe ends of the pivot bar in place of the anchor frame employed in theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 4.

In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, l0 generally indicates a buckle fastener constructed in accordance with my invention.

While I have shown my improved type of buckle fastener employed on a shoe, it is apparent that it may be employed for attaching a strap end to any desired portion of an article of apparel, or for any other use for which a buckle fastener of this type is desired. It is particularly useful, however, with shoes and gloves and I have shown in the drawing my buckle fastener IB employed on the side wall I2 of a shoe upper, or on a suitable strap ill projecting inwardly therefrom over the foot instep for use in detachably securing the strap end I8 projecting upwardly from the opposite side wall of the shoe upper thereto to adjustably fasten said strap end i 8 within my improved buckle fastener i0 over the instep, further reference being made to the showing of my copending application for Buckle fasteners, Ser. No. 203,051, filed April 20, 1938 heretofore referred to.

As stated hitherto, my improved buckle fastener is of a type employing a relatively stationary pivot bar 22 adapted to be rigidly nonrotatably attached to the article below it by suitable means such as the stitching 24 shown attaching said pivot bar 22 to the strap end id immediately below it, and a relatively pivotable buckle frame 2G pivotally mounted on said pivot bar 22 to pivot to a position substantially at right angles to the plane of the article below said pivot bar 22 so that the opposite strap end I8 may be inserted underneath the outer end 28 of said buckle frame while being attached and detached to my improved buckle fastener. My improved buckle fastener also includes a buckle tongue 35 also pivotally mounted on said pivot bar 22 having an end adapted to be inserted through a selected hole 32 in the strap end i8 so that the end thereof may be forced by the strap end against the end 2B of the buckle frame 26 as usual when in use, said strap end also functioning to pull the buckle frame downwards substantially to the plane in which the pivot bar 22 is attached to the article. While the buckle frame 26 may be of any desired shape, it is preferably constructed of the hollow rectangular formation shown with the outer end bar 28 and the side bars or arms My improved buckle is provided with means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar 22, which means in my preferred embodiment, comprises a strap end keeper frame MB adapted in useto receive the' tip of the strap end i8 therethrough to clamp the tip of the strap i end I8 against the strap end I4 or other article to which the pivot bar 22 of my improved buckle fastener is nonrotatably attached. In my preferred embodiment said keeper frame is also preferably rectangular and includes the flat end bar 42 and the side bars or arms M having the ends thereof suitably secured tol the main pivot bar 22.

As stated hitherto, a further feature of my invention consists in providing means 50 projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar to function in association with said means or keeper frame hitherto described, projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar 22 to maintain said pivot bar 22 in a stationary position on said article against tilting when said pivot bar is once secured thereto by the stitching 2li or other means hitherto described, in my preferred embodiment, said means 5i) comprising an anchor frame 5U projecting rigidly forwardly from said y pivot bar 22 substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of the article or strap end I4 in front of said pivot. bar. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 4, said anchor frame comprises an end bar 52 and the side bars 54 having the rear ends thereof rigidly attached to said 'pivot bar 22 substantially in the plane thereof and substantially adjacent the ends of said pivot bar. In the embodiment of my invention shown in. Fig. 5, however, said means 50 comprises the stop lugs 5B' projecting integrally forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof.

My invention specifically relates to the means I preferably employ for pivotally mounting the buckle frame 26 on the pivot bar 22 or adjacent front portion of the keeper frame 40. For this purpose, I provide the filled-in portions it adjacent the ends of said arms it and said pivot bar 22 and I provide said lled-in portions with the relatively large pivot holes 43 therein. The ends 60 of the pivot arms 34 of the vbuckle frame pass through said keeper frame holes 48 and are rolled upwardly as at 49 around said pivot bar `and the ends thereof substantially circumferentially abut the opposite surface of the pivot arms 3d of said buckle frame 28, to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar. As will be apparent the filled-in` portions Mi also provide stop means tolimit the rearward pivotal` movement of said buckle frame 26 in the manner to be described.

As stated hitherto, my invention relates to improvements in the specific type of means em ployed for limiting the pivoting movement of said buckle frame and in my preferred embodi-` ment shown for this purpose, I preferably specically provide the arms 34 of said buckle frame with the stop lugs 4l projecting inwardly thereofy spaced such a distance from the filled-in stop means portions @6 of said keeper frame as to abut said stop means portions 4B when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position for the insertion of the strap end i8 therethrough and also so spaced from the ends of said buckle frame arms 34 to abut the forwardly projecting means 5E or 50 when said buckle frame 25 is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use, whether said means projecting forwardly from the pivot Ybar comprises the anchor frame 5t as shown in Figs. 1 4, or the stop lugs 50 shown for this purpose in Fig. 5.

The buckle tongue 3U may be conveniently mounted on the pivot bar by having the end 3l thereof rolled around the portion of the pivot bar between the aligning lugs v33 integrally stamped thereon for this purpose.

It is thus obvious that inasmuch as the means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar, namely, the keeper fr'ame l2 and the means 5D projecting rigidly forwardly from said keeper bar, whether it comprises the anchor frame 56,

or the stop lugs 50', both continuously abut the.

tener that they may be readily stamped from` flat stock.

It is also apparent that with the particular construction shown, stop means will bey provided if desired, to limit the rearward movement of the buckle frame to a substantially vertical position and stop means will also be provided to limit the downward movement of the buckle frame to a substantially horizontal position, yet continuouslyv spaced from the surface of the article on which my improved buckle fastener is mounted sov as to prevent wear between the parts of my improved buckl-e, or the shoe or other article or material below it.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a novel type of buckle fastener, constructed of a mini-` mum number of readily formed and assembled l parts and with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limitedlto the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane ther-cof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having lledin portions having pivot holes therein adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms having ends passing through said keeper frame holes and rolled around said pivot bar to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar, said arms having stop lugs projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distancefrom the filled-in portions of said keeper Iframe as to abut said portions when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut said anchor frame arms when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially -to a horizontal position in use, a buckle tongue, and means to pivotally mount said buckle tongue on said pivot bar to pivot substantially without lateral sway in a `single plane yand Without movement of 'said pivot bar, whereby said pivot bar may be permanently rigidly secured to said article against movement in use.

2l. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and vother articles, comprising a pivot bar, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having filled-in portions having pivot holes therein adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a bucklev frame having pivot arms having ends passing through said keeper frame holes and rolled around said pivot bar to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar, said arms having stop lugs projecting inwardly therefrom spaced such a distance from the filled-in .portions of said keeper frame as to abut said portions when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut said anchor frame arms when said buckle frame is vpivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

3. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper if frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having stop means projecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having stop means projecting inwardly thereof sp-aced such a distance from said keeper frame stop means as to abut said means when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut said anchor frame arms when said buckle 'frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

CII

4. A bucklefastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardlyk from sa'id pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having stop means projecting inwardly vtherefrom adjacent the ends of said arms `and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having means projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distance from said keeper frame stop means as toabut said means when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut lsaid forwardly projecting stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

5*. A buckle fastener adapted for use! with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap lend keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion .of a strap end therethrough to overlie said -article having filled-in portions having pivot holes therein adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms. having' ends passing through said keeper frame holes and rolled around said .pivot bar to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar, said 4arms having lugs projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distance from the lled-in portions of said keeper frame as to abut said portions when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut said forwardly projecting stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

6. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surfacel of an article, said arms being so spaced from the ends of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed-by an overlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article, a buckle frame adapted to receive said strap end therethrough having pivot arms having spaced ends pivotally mounted on the ends of said pivot bar to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar, said arms having stop lugs projecting inwardly thereof to abut said forwardly projecting anchor frame when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

7. A buckle fastener1 adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in' the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having filled-in portions having pivot holes therein adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame adapted to receive said strap end therethro-ugh having spaced pivot arms having ends passing through said keeper frame holes and rolled around said pivot bar to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar, said arms having stop lugs projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distance from the filled-in portions of said keeper frame as to abut said portions when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

8. ,A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article, a buckle frame adapted to receive said strap end therethrough having pivot arms pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having stop means projecting inwardly thereof to abut said forwardly projecting stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

9. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having stop means projecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame adapted to receive said strap end therethrough having pivot spaced arms pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having stop means projecting inllwardly thereof to abut said keeper frame stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

10. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, said arms being so spaced from the end of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having stop means projecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms adapted to receive said strap end therethrough pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having stop means projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distance from said keeper frame stop means as to abut said means when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and als-oto abut said anchor frame arms when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

l1. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, said stop means being so spaced from the ends of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame having arms projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article having stop means projecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the ends of said arms and said pivot bar, a buckle frame having pivot arms adapted to receive said strap end therethrough pivotally mounted on saidv pivot bar, said arms having means projecting inwardly thereof spaced such a distance from said keeper frame stop means as to abut said means when said buckle frame is pivoted rearwardly substantially to a vertical position and also to abut said forwardly projecting stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

l2. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, stop means projecting rigidly forwardly from adjacent the ends of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, said stop means being so spaced from the end of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame having arms adapted to receive said strap end therethrough projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to permit insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article, a buckle frame having pivot arms adapted to receive said strap end therethrough pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, said arms having stop means projecting inwardly thereof to abut said forwardly projecting stop means when said buckle frame is pivoted substantially to a horizontal position in use and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

13. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar rigidly directly securable to an underlying article, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar to abut the surface of said article, said arms being so spaced from the ends of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article with said keeper frame abutting said strap end, a buckle frame having spaced arms adapted to receive said strap end therebetween, means to pivotally mount said buckle frame `arms on said pivot bar so that said Abuckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying said anchor frame to an open position substantially at right angles to said keeper frame for facile insertion of said strapend therethrough and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

14. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar rigidly directly securable to an underlying article, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar to abut the surface of said article, said arms being so spaced from the ends of the pivot bar vas to be `normally concealed by an voverlying strap end in use, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article with said keeper frame abutting said strap end, a buckle frame having spaced arms adapted to receive said strap end therebetween, means to pivotally mourut said buckle frame arms on said pivot bar without movement of said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a 'closed position overlying said anchor frame to an open position substantially at right angles to said keeper frame for facile insertion of said strap end therethrough, a buckle tongue, and means to plvotally mount said buckle tongue on said pivot bar to pivot substantially -Without lateral sway in a single plane and Without movement of said pivot bar, whereby said pivot bar may be permanently rigidly secured directly to said article without movement 1n use.

15. A buckle fastener for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar rigidly directly securable to an underlying article, means projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar so spaced from the ends of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use and means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to main-y tain said pivot bar in a stationary position on an article, a buckle frame pivotally mounted on said fastener substantially in the axis of said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying said forwardly projecting means to an open position substantially at right angles to said article for facile insertion of said strap end therethrough and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

FERNANDO M. RONCI. 

